Cornet.



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CORNET.

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COHNET.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEjmE,`

HENDERSON N. WHITE, `015' CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CORNET.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 27,

Applicatoniled March 1, 1915.` Serial No. 11,132.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENDERSON N. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State f Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cornets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises a cornet of simple construction and balanced design in which a single slide functions to permit independent tuning in Bb or A and for quick change from any correctly tuned adjustment `in Bb to a corresponding correct position and tune in A, and in which air and water pockets', water-keys,tuning slides, short turns in the tubes, and unsightly and interfering adjust ment rods and parts are all reduced to a minimum or eliminated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a bottom view i of my improved cornet, showing theV combination tuning and quick change slidey drawn out for use in A Fig. 3 is a rear view of the cornet, and Fig. 4 a vertical section on line 4-4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side view of the third valve. Fig. 6 is a cross section of the valvecasings and a 'plan view ofthe combined tuningand quick-change slide, full size. Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of the clamping device which is adapted to either limit or control the outward movement of the combinationy slide or to rfix it positively in any predetermined position. Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7, showing the radial slots in the slide housing.

My improved cornet is constructed as follows: Three valves 1, 2 and 3, comprising cylindrical casings containing reciprocable spring-seated plungers, are mounted in parallel alinement vertically between the bell tube 4 and the mouth pipe 5 as usual, 'and each valve casing is provided with a sepa rate valve crooks 6, 7 and .8 respectively, substantially as heretofore. The bell tube has a single turn or crook 9 with a straight portion 10 extending therefrom into connecting .and communicating relation with the casing 1, and the mouth pipe 5 has a sweeping turn or crook 11 with a relatively long straight extension 12 extending rearwardly at `one side of the bottom ends of the valves. The mouth pipe is tapered or provided with a tapered bore as usual, but in the beginning of the straight extension 12 without'a single break, distortion, or air pocket throughout its full length, thereby avoiding imperfect tones in this vital toneorming portion of the instrument. The mouth-piece extension 12 is connectedV in open communication with the bell side of the third valve casing 3 by a rear-wardlyextending lbranch tube 14 andby a single slide 15. Tube 14 is substantially the same 1n length as pipe extension 12 and parallel therewith but disposed horizontally on a higher level to place the slide 15 permanently on an inclined plane, see Fig. 3.

Slide 15 comprises a relatively widespreading crook having parallel straight elongated tubular legs 16 and 17 slidably confined or telescoped within the pipe exten sion 12 andl branch tube 14, respectively. This places the legs or ends of the slide in straddling relation to the valves, one at each side thereof, andenables a relatively long slide 15 to be used and a correspondinglyv long slidable vmovement to be obtained, especially as the extension 12 and tube 14 and the slide V15 are all situated beneath the bottom portion 10 of the bell tube and out of the way of all other parts of the cornet. More,- over, slide 15 is in an exceptionally accessible place for convenient gripping and operation by the right hand of the operator, being at the bottom of the instrument rearwardly of the valves where there is unlimited room for forward and back movements of the slide and the hand holding it. In this way, the air passage may be materially elongated within a single localized area between the third valve and the terminating point of the taper of the mouth pipe, and the instrument changed to play in correct tune either in Bb or A. Slide 15 is also provided with a double set of gage marks or indicating lines A and B, respectively, the several marks 'or lines for each set being spaced apart equal distances and designated by like numbers 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Tube or leg 16 is also slightly reduced in diameter at about its middle at A to provide an annular shoulder 18, and the outer or larger portion 19 of said leg or tube fits snugly in air-tight slidable engagement within tubular extension 12. This tubular extension is provided at its outer extremity with a tapered screw thread 19 and radial slots 20 which provide a series of spring tongues 21 adapted to be contracted by a screw collar 22 having 'taf pered internal screw threads at its front end.

Contraction of the tongue may be relatively slight and only sufficient to temporarily retard the movement of the slide when drawn outward and at the instant when shoulder 18 is brought into wiping engagement with the tongue. But when occasion requires the outward movement of the slide can be positively arrested at and by shoulder 18, providing the clamping collar is rotated to a somewhat greater extent than in the former instance. A still greater degree of rotation of the col lar will clamp the slide against any movement whatsoever and fix it in any predetermined set. position relatively to the end of extension 14:. lVhen slight clamping effects are established it is possible to withdraw slide 15 quickly and easily until the shoulder.

18l engages the contracted zone of the extension where split and then the sense of touch of the operator immediately makes it known to him that the quick change of the slide from Bb te A is effected. The slide is usually permitted to rest in that shifted position, but where the requirements of tuning demand a further outward placing of the slide, the operator may by a further pull easily overcome the resistance offered by shoulder 18. For example, where tuning in Bb has required an outward ull and setting of the slide at the line 2 adJacent the mark B, or in brief B2., then a quick change to bring about a corresponding correct tuning in A may be accomplished by a further out-V ward pull of thek slide to A2 with a slight retardation by shoulder' 18 to give the operator instant eue as to the position ofv the slide. In fact, each gage mark 1, 2', 3 on the enlargement 19` is shown in the form of a shoulder to act in the same way as shoulder 18v in indicating to the operator by sense of touch the different exact positions of the slide during slidable movements thereof, and the tube 19 is tapered slightly between the shoulders tov aiford spring play for the tongues 21. The location of slide 15 at the bottom and rear of the valves gives the instrument. perfect balance, and affords a relatively wide and open space between the bell tube and valve slides to hold and operate the instrument. MOreOVer, such location and the transverse inclination of said slide eliminates the need of all but onel water-key which water-key 23 is located at the bottom or lowest point of the mouth-pipe crook 11. The/single slide 15 also reduces-.the number of air pockets to. a minimum, only twofsuch air pockets being possible when the slide isV drawn out within the two extensions 12 and 14. Also. the construction is such that it is practically impossible for water to collect and gurgle in any' of the'open-tone or valve slide tubes, as the ldrainage is perfect and: unobstructed, and practically Vcontinuous from the'highest level to the lowest point marked by the. single. water-key 2.3.. The

clamping collar 22 eliminates the need of adjustment rods, and nuts and brackets, which o-lferobstruction to operations and are unsightly, and the cornet as a whole is practically stripped of vibratory and other loose or extra parts which are liable to get out of order. The single slide 15 does the work of the separate tuning and A slides used heretofore, but in a better way, that is, the instrument is very much simplified in general ;v it is well balanced, light in weight and convenient to hold; it blows easily at all times and has wonderful volume with breadth of tone and carrying qualities, and it is quickly and conveniently tuned and easily operated.

The advantage in connecting the slide 15 with the third valve casing is that a relatively long slide may be used in straddling relation to the casings at the bottom of the instrument where there is unlimited room for forwardand backward movements and a relatively long slide is required so that the instrument may be changed instantly and played in correct time either in Bb or A. By straddling thel casing and connecting with the third valve as shown, ample room is provided for the elongation of the air passage between the terminating point of the taper of the mouth pipe, while at the same time, an unhampered operation is obtained of a single slide capable of tuning in either Bb or A, thusy accomplishing by the use 0f one slide, the function of two slides in other oornets.

VWhat I claim is:

1. A cornet comprising. a bell tube having a .crook and straight extension, three valves, a tapered mouth pipe, and a relatively long tuning slide extending toward the mouth end andy beneath the bell crook extensionl of the instrument and in straddling relation with the bottom end of said valves and communicating with and in slidable connection with the third valve and with the tapered mouth pipe.

2. A cornet comprising a bell tube and a mouth pipe, threer valves vertically'placed intermediate said tubey and pipe, a tuning slide straddling the bottom ends of all three valves and communicating and in Vslidable connection with said mou-th pipe and one of said valves, and a single water-key at the lower end ofsaid mouth pipe contiguous to one end of said tuning slide.

A cornet comprising a set of valves, a mouth pipe and bell tube on opposite'sides of the lupper ends of said valves, said bell tube having a crook communicating with the first valve said mouth pipe having. a crook and a tuning slide communicating'therewith and with the third valve andstraddling the vlower ends. of allV thevalvesand inclined transversely thereto, and a water-key at thel lower end of the mouth pipe crook. y y

4. A. cornet.y comprising a set of three valves, a bell tube communicating with the first valve of the set, a mouth pipe having a crook and a straight extension projected rearwardly therefrom adjacent the bottom ends of said valves, and the rear end of said extension having tapered spring tongues, a clamping collar for said tongues, a tuning slide having tubular legs and separate sets of indicating marks at the inner and middle portion of one of said legs and a branch tube projected rearwardly fromV the third valve on the bell tube side of the instrument and on a higher horizontal elevation than said mouth pipe extension to slidably support said tuning slide in inclined and straddling relation to said valves.

5. A cornet-comprising valves, a bell tube, a mouth pipe, and a tuning slide having two sets of corresponding indicating marks at the inner end and middle portion thereof.

6. A cornet comprising valves, a bell tube, a mouth pipe, a tuning slide having corresponding indicating marks at the inner end and middle portion thereof, and means to i check the movement of said slide at one of said indicating marks.

7. A cornet comprising valves, a bell tube, a mouth pipe, a tuning slide having an enlargement provided With a series of shoulders, a yielding detent to engage said shoulders successively and means to fix said slide in a predetermined position.

8. In a cornet or other wind instrument, a tube and a tubular slide, and means to determine 4instantly dierent relative positions of the slide to said tube, comprising a yielding device, and retarding shoulders at spaced intervals annularly of the slide adapted to be engaged successively by said device. i

9. In a cornet or other wind instrument, a split tube and tubular slide therein having a series of shouldered portions, adapted to be engaged by the split portion of said tube, and means to contract the split tube to hold the slide in predetermined positions.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENDERSON N. WHITE. Witnesses R. B. Mosnn, Gro. E. KRIGKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

